Since being appointed as Acting Drafter of Edicts and permitted to participate in court discussions, she had no opportunities to be alone with him. Due to the examination reform matter, she had been dealing with various debates at court, working on transferring officials from the Military Commissioner’s Office and Transport Commission of Northern Chao’an Circuit and preparing for her role as co-examiner in the metropolitan examinations half a month away. Additionally, Cao Jing had been continuously introducing promising young officials to her. For days on end, she hadn’t had a moment’s rest.

Since the end of February, His Majesty had been frequently visiting the Privy Council for discussions. She knew he was equally busy, barely having time to sleep, but she didn’t know exactly what he was discussing with the officials there. Since the founding of the Great Peace Dynasty, the Zhongshu and Menxia Departments had never interfered with the military affairs of the Privy Council. The Prime Ministers and Parliamentary Officials rarely participated in military deliberations unless they were exceptional national matters. Privy Councilor Fang Kai had earned great military merit when accompanying the Emperor Emeritus in battle during the pacification of the realm. The officials under him were mostly military officers who had followed the Emperor Emeritus and Prince Ping for decades. Their loyalty to His Majesty was incomparable to others at court. When His Majesty entered the Privy Council for discussions, the Zhongshu and Menxia Departments could not know the details without special authorization. Moreover, Fang Kai and others had always disdained the factional struggles in the Government Hall, leading to years of tension between the two departments. Therefore, even though she was an official of the Zhongshu Department, she couldn’t know anything about the military affairs of the Privy Council.

Since returning from Western Mountain, she barely had enough sleep each night, naturally having no spare time to dwell on romantic matters. She knew he had been focusing on governmental and military affairs for months and probably hadn’t thought of her at all, so she had never harbored any resentment about not being summoned for a private audience.

But at this moment, when he asked her that question, a wave of longing suddenly flooded her heart. She realized that she had unconsciously thought of him countless times. With him now standing just inches away, she could almost see the faint twinkle in his eyes. Her heart began to race, and she couldn’t resist the urge to reach out and touch that resolute, handsome face that had haunted her dreams.

The desire was so strong, yet so inappropriate. She couldn’t help but sigh softly, avoiding his soul-stirring gaze, her voice becoming hoarse like his: “I know Your Majesty is busy with state and military affairs. How could I harbor resentment over personal matters?”

He laughed softly, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Very good.”

She was instantly captivated by his smile in the sunlight, truly wanting to throw caution to the wind, embrace him, gently kiss his eyebrows and thin lips, and express her long-accumulated yearning.

Yet she restrained herself again and again, lowering her head to look at her feet.

He turned sideways and instructed the two eunuchs behind him.

Knowing he was truly about to leave, she bowed her head respectfully and said, “After tomorrow’s morning court, I will follow Your Majesty’s wishes and go to the training grounds.”

He responded with a sound of acknowledgment, gave her one more deep look, and then turned and left without further delay.

She also slowly turned around and walked back. On the way, she looked down at the registers in her hand, her gaze inevitably darkening.

This was merely a beginning.

She was neither afraid nor intimidated, nor would she retreat.

She was still young, with ample time to deal with these senior officials. She believed that someday, she would make these high officials of the Government Hall unable to look down on her, and she would be able to stand openly and proudly at his side, closest to him.

***

After the morning court the next day, she first returned to her residence to change her clothes and have a meal. When it was past noon, she set out for the training grounds to observe the horsemanship drills of the palace guards.

When she arrived, the Imperial Guards were already riding at a leisurely pace. Each wore light clothes and thin armor, looking exceptionally gallant under the scorching sun. Some officials from the Privy Council stood not far away, presumably having come to watch the drills by His Majesty’s order. Although she had never dealt with the Privy Council, she could still recognize formidable military officials like Fang Kai and Jiang Ping, whose bloody achievements were renowned throughout the court and beyond.

Previously, when she went to quell the rebellion in the Northern Chao’an Circuit, many of the accompanying Imperial Guards had witnessed her fearless dignity in the face of the rebel army. Many of them had developed a favorable impression of her. Now, seeing her, they raised their spears in salute, their attitude extremely friendly, making her smile with delight.

These soldiers were young and masculine, their gaze always pure and direct, their emotions of joy and anger clear and decisive, and their actions brave and resolute. They constantly emanated a primitive and pure masculine aura.

She genuinely liked these military officers and soldiers. Unlike the civil officials who were skilled at forming factions and fighting each other, these soldiers were unwaveringly loyal to His Majesty. Years of military life made them act simply and decisively. Even Fang Kai, who had long left the military camp and entered the Privy Council, appeared vastly different from the senior officials of the two departments in her eyes.

There had been earlier rumors that His Majesty intended to appoint civil officials to participate in military affairs at the Privy Council, breaking the tradition since the founding of the Great Peace Dynasty that only military generals could hold important positions in the Privy Council. However, not a single civil official in court believed this rumor.

Setting aside whether any current civil officials would dare claim they could participate in military affairs, would any of these veteran generals who had controlled the Privy Council for years allow a civil official with no military merits to enter the Privy Council and give orders? In the past, Madam Shen, née Ceng, was the only person in the country’s history who, as a civil official, could enter the Privy Council to handle affairs. But even though she had accompanied the Emperor Emeritus in battle, established military achievements, gained the recognition of the generals, and was still appointed by the Emperor Emeritus as the Deputy Commissioner of the Privy Council. Since Madam Ceng resigned and retired from politics, the realm had been at peace for over twenty years. How could civil officials have the opportunity to enter the Privy Council?

Lost in her thoughts, she suddenly heard the sound of galloping hooves from ahead. Turning her head, she saw a black stallion passing swiftly, the rider in bright armor, with an imposing aura that no one could resist.

Beside the black stallion was a slightly shorter chestnut-colored horse with bright red mane that was dazzling in the sunlight. Its body also gleamed faintly, clearly a superior steed.

With one hand steadily controlling both reins, he urged the red horse to gallop to her side before pulling the reins to stop it.

She looked up at him on horseback, and with just one glance, she could not withdraw her gaze.

It wasn’t the first time she had seen him galloping on horseback; she had even been held in his arms as they rode together. But seeing him now, wearing light armor with a silver spear at his side, exuding a vigorous and valiant aura, she was so enchanted that she couldn’t regain her senses.

Though he was handsome and authoritative in his daily appearance, how could it compare to his current iron-blooded, stern demeanor that stirred her heart?

From afar came the sound of soldiers saluting him, powerful and crisp, resonating across the field.

In the azure sky, wispy clouds intertwined. A gentle breeze brushed past his dark armor and silver helmet. His eyes shimmered slightly, and the blazing sun accentuated his hard, cold silhouette.

She was so captivated by the sight of him that she even forgot to bow in the presence of the Emperor. It wasn’t until someone nearby reminded her with a call of “Official Meng” that she suddenly came back to her senses.

Her face reddened slightly, but she composed herself, looking away and bowing her head as she said softly, “Your subject Meng Tinghui greets Your Majesty.” Hearing no response from him, she raised her head to look again, only to meet his amused gaze.

His cold iron armor paired with his fiery gaze instantly made her succumb again, forcefully stirring her passionate desires.

His intense gaze made her somewhat breathless.

The person was before her, yet she could not touch or embrace him—what torment this was for her! And he continued to look at her with that penetrating gaze as if he could see through all her thoughts.

After a long while, he finally called someone nearby and instructed them to bring the chestnut horse to her. Then, looking down at her from his high position, he said, “I bestow this horse upon you. Its name is ‘Qingyun Buzhui’ (Soaring Clouds Never Fall).”

She was stunned.

The horse’s name was so peculiar that she almost thought he was deliberately teasing her—”Soaring Clouds Never Fall,” was he telling her not to fall from horseback again?

Thinking of falling from a horse, she looked at the animal again and felt that its color was special yet familiar. It seemed to be the very same temperamental horse that had thrown her off and injured her at the Northern Park two years ago, except that after not seeing it for two years, it had grown considerably taller.

Seeing the expression on her face, he raised his eyebrows and laughed softly. “Meng Tinghui, don’t you know how to express gratitude?”

She quickly said, “I thank Your Majesty for bestowing this horse. It’s just that the name…”

His eyes shone with a hidden brightness as he slowly said, “I wish for you to rise swiftly through the ranks, soar to the highest heavens, and never fall.”